US embassy cable - 99CARACAS2123

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 002123 
 
DEPT FOR ACTING A/S ROMERO AND WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  07/07/09 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, VE 
SUBJECT: PERSONAL ATTACK ON CHAVEZ MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONY 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOHN F. MAISTO.  REASON: 1.5(B) AND (D). 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) POLITICAL GADFLY, KNEE-JERK LEFTIST, HISTORIAN, WELL-KNOWN 
WRITER AND SPEAKER, FORMER CHAVEZ ALLY, AND DISAPPOINTED OFFICE 
SEEKER JORGE OLAVARRIA LAUNCHED A SCATHING ATTACK ON PRESIDENT HUGO 
CHAVEZ, CALLING HIM A "DEMAGOGUE" AND ACCUSING HIM OF VARIOUS 
VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE KEYNOTE SPEECH DURING THE 
TRADITIONAL JULY 5 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.  THE DIATRIBE, 
WHICH OCCURRED IN CONGRESS AND BEFORE THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY AND 
THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WAS INTERRUPTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY SENATE 
PRESIDENT AND CHAVEZ ALLY LUIS ALFONSO DAVILA.  SUPREME COURT 
PRESIDENT CELIA SOSA GOMEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY HIGH-COMMAND 
WALKED OUT OF THE SESSION. 
 
2. (C) THE INCIDENT FOLLOWED THE TRADITIONAL READING OF VENEZUELA'S 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND A CONCILIATORY, STATESMAN-LIKE 
SPEECH BY CHAVEZ AT THE SENATE.  INVITING OLAVARRIA, CLEARLY THE 
WORK OF THE DEMOCRATIC ACTION (AD) PARTY AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL 
REVENGE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, BACKFIRED, AND WAS ROUNDLY 
CRITICIZED BY MOST OBSERVERS, INCLUDING LEADING MEMBERS OF THE 
OPPOSITION WHO WERE OFFENDED AT OLAVARRIA'S USE OF THE INDEPENDENCE 
DAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS AS A FORUM FOR POLITICAL ATTACK.  PRESIDENT OF 
THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND OPPOSITION LEADER HENRIQUE CAPRILES, 
WHO HAD WORKED HARD TO SECURE CHAVEZ' ATTENDANCE, EXPRESSED STUNNED 
DISMAY AT OLAVARRIA'S ADDRESS.  FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, CHAVEZ 
MAINTAINED THE HIGH-ROAD, STICKING TO PATRIOTIC THEMES DURING THE 
MILITARY PARADE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE DAY LIKE ANY OTHER? 
---------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) VENEZUELANS BEGAN THE DAY-LONG CEREMONY MARKING THEIR 188TH 
INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH THE TRADITIONAL READING OF THE DECLARATION OF 
INDEPENDENCE IN THE SENATE, WHICH WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY A 
CONCILIATORY, STATESMAN-LIKE SPEECH BY PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ.  THE 
CEREMONIES THEN MOVED TO THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES SIDE OF CONGRESS 
WHERE IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR AN INVITED SPEAKER FROM OUTSIDE THE 
GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER A KEYNOTE ADDRESS REVOLVING AROUND THE BROAD 
THEMES OF VENEZUELAN HISTORY AND VALUES.  THIS YEAR'S INVITED 
SPEAKER, ATTORNEY, CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE, AND FORMER 
CHAVEZ ALLY JORGE OLAVARRIA LAUNCHED A SCATHING PERSONAL ATTACK ON 
THE PRESIDENT. 
 
----------------- 
A PERSONAL ATTACK 
----------------- 
 
4.  (C) OLAVARRIA CALLED CHAVEZ A "DEMAGOGUE" AND ACCUSED HIM OF 
VARIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTIONS.  MEANWHILE, CHAVEZ SAT 
CALMLY BEHIND THE ORATOR, TAKING NOTES AND SHOWING NO SIGNS OF 
DISCONTENT.  OLAVARRIA'S WORDS CENTERED ON CHAVEZ' ALLEGED 
DISRESPECT FOR THE NATION'S INSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND INSISTENCE ON 
STEPPING OVER LAWS CONTAINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.  "THE PRESIDENT," 
OBSERVED OLAVARRIA, "BELIEVES HE HAS RECEIVED ABSOLUTE DICTATORIAL 
POWERS FROM POPULAR MANDATE...IN A TRAGIC EUPHEMISM OF POPULAR 
WILL."  "CHAVEZ," HE SAID, "DOES NOT BELIEVE HE NEEDS TO ABIDE BY 
ANY OTHER LAW THAN POPULAR WILL."  "IT IS CLEAR," SAID OLAVARRIA, 
"THAT NOBODY CAN IGNORE THE REPEATED THREATS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS 
DIRECTED AT CONGRESS, THE SUPREME COURT AND ITS MAGISTRATES, THE 
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AND THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL, THE NATIONAL 
ELECTORAL COUNCIL AND THE ARMED FORCES."  "HE WRITES LETTER TO THE 
SUPREME COURT CHALLENGING THEIR AUTHORITY--AND NOTHING HAPPENS," 
CONTINUED OLAVARRIA.  "HE PUBLICLY ACCUSES MEMBERS OF THE COURT OF 
CORRUPTION--AND NOTHING HAPPENS.  HE SAYS THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO REPLACE CONGRESS AND THE REST OF THE 
GOVERNMENT--AND NOTHING HAPPENS." 
 
5.  (C) OLAVARRIA ALLEGED THAT CHAVEZ "DISRESPECTED THE LAWS OF THE 
CONSTITUTION" AND "OPENLY INSTIGATES DISRESPECT FOR CONGRESS." 
ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS TO BE MOTIVATED BY REFORM, OLAVARRIA 
ASSERTED, "HIS ATTITUDE IS NOT THAT OF A REFORMER."  CHARGING THAT 
THE PRESIDENT PRETENDS TO CREATE A "DE FACTO GOVERNMENT," OLAVARRIA 
ASSERTED THAT "NOT A SINGLE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER HAS BEEN EXEMPT 
FROM HIS THREATS."  CHAVEZ' RECENT DECISION TO PROMOTE MILITARY 
OFFICIALS IN SPITE OF SENATE DISAPPROVAL WAS ALSO CITED BY 
OLAVARRIA AS AN EXAMPLE OF CHAVEZ' SCORN FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF 
GOVERNMENT.  "HE PROMOTES MILITARY OFFICERS WHILE IGNORING THE 
SENATE'S OPINION, DESPITE INSTITUTIONALIZED PROCEDURES FOR 
PROMOTION," SAID OLAVARRIA, POINTING OUT THAT THE IDEA FOR 
LEGISLATIVE CONFIRMATION OF VENEZUELAN MILITARY PROMOTIONS WAS 
ORIGINATED BY BOLIVAR.  HE ALSO ACCUSED CHAVEZ OF "UNDERMINING ONE 
OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS--THE ARMED FORCES." 
 
6.  (C) CONCLUDING, OLAVARRIA CALLED ON THE SUPREME COURT OF 
JUSTICE (CSJ) TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTS MERIT 
PROSECUTION.  SHOULD THE CSJ JUDGE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS 
OVERSTEPPED THE LAW, RECOMMENDED OLAVARRIA, THE MATTER SHOULD BE 
BROUGHT BEFORE THE SENATE.  OLAVARRIA CALLED ON VENEZUELANS TO RID 
THEMSELVES OF THEIR APATHY AND CONFORMITY AND ACT AGAINST "THIS 
VIOLENCE AND IRREALITY."  DEFENDING HIS PERFORMANCE DURING A POST- 
CEREMONY INTERVIEW, OLAVARRIA SAID, "I AM ASSUMING MY 
RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD.  THE PRESIDENT HAS CHALLENGED THE COUNTRY'S 
INSTITUTIONS, AND I AM SAYING IT IS WRONG."  OLAVARRIA SAID HE 
MAINTAINED RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENCY, BUT "I 
WILL NOT REMOVE MYSELF FROM PUBLIC DEBATE.  THIS IS NOT TIME FOR 
HISTORIC DISCOURSES, BUT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW." 
 
---------------------- 
REACTION TO THE SPEECH 
---------------------- 
 
7.  (C) OLAVARRIA'S SPEECH WAS INTERRUPTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY 
SENATE PRESIDENT AND CHAVEZ ALLY LUIS ALFONSO DAVILA, WHO CALLED 
FOR RESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE CEREMONY.  "YOU'VE INSULTED 
CONGRESS AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE COME HERE IN A DAY OF UTMOST 
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE COUNTRY," SAID DAVILA, A RETIRED ARMY COLONEL. 
"WE HAVE NOT COME HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR INSULTS AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT."  SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT CELIA SOSA GOMEZ AND MEMBERS 
OF THE MILITARY HIGH COMMAND WALKED OUT OF THE SESSION.  SOSA 
DEFIANTLY ASSERTED THAT THE SUPREME COURT DOES NOT NEED ORATORS TO 
DEFEND IT; "IT DOES QUITE WELL ON ITS OWN."  MINISTER OF DEFENSE 
RAUL SALAZAR STOICALLY OBSERVED THAT "THE MILITARY FOLLOWS THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW," ADDING "IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT 
PROMOTIONS, THERE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL WAY TO SOLVE IT."   PRESIDENT 
OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND OPPOSITION LEADER HENRIQUE CAPRILES- 
-WHO LOBBIED HARD FOR CHAVEZ TO ATTEND THE SPEECH--EXPRESSED 
STUNNED DISMAY AT OLAVARRIA'S REMARKS, COMMENTING TO THE AMBASSADOR 
THAT SPEAKER'S COMMENTS HAD GONE FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF 
PROPRIETY. 
 
8.  (C) SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY (COPEI) CONGRESSIONAL FACTION LEADER 
CESAR PEREZ VIVAS COMMENTED THAT "CONGRESS, AS A CENTER OF DEBATE, 
HAS BECOME THE SCENE OF CRUDE CONFRONTATION."  PEREZ CAST SOME OF 
THE BLAME FOR OLAVARRIA'S EXCESSES ON CHAVEZ.  "THIS IS PART OF THE 
TENSE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED IN OUR COUNTRY," HE 
SAID.  "THE PRESIDENT HAS VERY AGGRESSIVELY BROUGHT ISSUES BEFORE 
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FEW 
DAYS...THIS SPEECH IS A RESPONSE TO THESE ACTIVITIES."  IT'S A 
SHAME THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS," SAID PEREZ.  "HOPEFULLY, THE TONE 
AN TENOR OF THE DEBATE WILL DIMINISH AS MORE RESPECTFUL PUBLIC 
DISCOURSE EMERGES."  ECHOING DEFENSE MINISTER SALAZAR'S COMMENTS, 
PEREZ CONCLUDED THAT "THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE 
INTERPRETED AND CARRIED OUT BY THE SUPREME COURT AND FISCAL 
GENERAL."  PEREZ' COPEI COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN PEDRO SEGUNDO BLANCO 
SAID OLAVARRIA "SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE RESPECT FOR THE OCCASION, 
ALTHOUGH THE SPEECH DELIVERED AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE 
PRESIDENT, WHICH REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE."  FOREIGN 
MINISTER JOSE VICENTE RAMGEL'S COMMENTS WERE ALOOF AND CIRCUMSPECT, 
CRITICIZING OLAVARRIA FOR NOT SUFFICIENTLY UNDERSTANDING "HOW TO 
INTERPRET THE NATIONAL PROCESS," OR THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT 
SITUATION.  RANGEL EXPRESSED RESPECT FOR OLAVARRIA'S RIGHT TO SELF 
EXPRESSION, ALTHOUGH HE THOUGH IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE OF HIM TO USE 
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY FORUM FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL PURPOSES. 
 
9.  (C) OPPOSITION AD PARTY LEADER CANACHE MATA LAID THE 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR OLAVARRIA'S SPEECH SQUARELY ON CHAVEZ. 
"CHAVEZ," HE SAID, "HAS OFFENDED EACH OF THE COUNTRY'S 
INSTITUTIONS, AND TODAY'S SPEECH IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT 
BEHAVIOR.  BESIDES CANACHE MATA, PROJECT VENEZUELA (PV) 
CONGRESSIONAL FACTION LEADER MIREYA RODRIGUEZ WAS ONE OF THE FEW TO 
PUBLICLY SUPPORT OLAVARRIA'S PRESENTATION.  "WE MUST CONFRONT THE 
DICTATORSHIP THAT CONFRONTS US," SAID RODRIGUEZ.  "THAT IS NOT TO 
SAY THERE SHOULD NOT BE RADICAL CHANGE, BUT THAT CHANGE MUST TAKE 
PLACE MAINTAINING RESPECT FOR INSTITUTIONS." 
 
------------------------------- 
CHAVEZ REFRAINS FROM RESPONDING 
------------------------------- 
 
10.  (C) A TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY MILITARY PARADE FOLLOWED 
THE CEREMONY.  THE BISHOP OF CARACAS OPENED THE PARADE WITH A 
BENEDICTION CALLING FOR RENEWED FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, AND FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THAT RENEWED FAITH BY "MAKING SOCIETY MORE 
JUST, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLES' DESIRES."  CHAVEZ 
REITERATED HIS CUSTOMARY THEMES:  "THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE THE 
TRUE MASTERS OF THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT," THE NEED TO RAISE A 
FEELING OF DIGNITY AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WIDER 
MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE.  "THE ARMED FORCES," SAID 
CHAVEZ, "WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO BUILD 
A TRUE DEMOCRACY BASED ON THE DESIRES OF THE PEOPLE, AND A STABLE 
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM."  HIS ATYPICALLY SHORT SPEECH WAS 
REPLETE WITH ALLUSIONS TO CHRISTIANITY, AND A PHILOSOPHY HE CALLS 
"REVOLUTIONARY HUMANISM."  CHAVEZ PRAISED THE ARMED FORCES FOR 
DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR ITS PATIENCE AND 
CONSTANCY.  "RESPECT FOR THE SOLDIER," SAID CHAVEZ, "IS RESPECT FOR 
ALL VENEZUELANS."  MAINTAINING THE HIGH-ROAD IN HIS REMARKS, CHAVEZ 
REFRAINED FROM REFERRING TO OLAVARRIA'S DISCOURSE, STICKING TO 
PATRIOTIC THEMES.  THE PRESIDENT DID, HOWEVER, DECLARE THE END OF 
A PERIOD OF "CORRUPTOCRACY" AND SAID THAT "VENEZUELA WAS OPENING UP 
TO A PERIOD OF TRUE DEMOCRACY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IN 
WHICH JUSTICE PREVAILS...LEAVING BEHIND A TYRANNY OF COWARDS." 
CHAVEZ CONCLUDED THE DAY'S REMARKS, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING 
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL CONSTRUCT A COUNTRY THAT IS 
"TRULY DEMOCRATIC AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE." 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
11.  (C) OLAVARRIA IS A GADFLY POLITICAL INTELLECTUAL, KNEE-JERK 
LEFTIST, WELL-KNOWN SPEAKER AND AUTHOR WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO CHAVEZ 
DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND HAD HOPED TO RECEIVE A HIGH- 
LEVEL APPOINTMENT IN THE CHAVEZ ADMINISTRATION.  EARLY ON, HIS NAME 
WAS FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR FOREIGN MINISTER, AND AT 
ONE POINT HE BELIEVED HE WAS THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE FOR AMBASSADOR TO 
SPAIN.  CHAVEZ, HOWEVER, TUNED INTO OLAVARRIA'S OPPORTUNISTIC 
MOTIVATIONS AND PERIPATETIC POLITICAL CONVICTIONS BEFORE APPOINTING 
HIM TO A POST.  INVITING OLAVARRIA TO SPEAK WAS CLEARLY THE WORK OF 
THE AD PARTY AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL REVENGE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, 
BUT IT BACKFIRED.  THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE 
SPECTACLE, AND MOST OBSERVERS AGREE THAT IT BENEFITTED CHAVEZ. 
 
12.  (C) IN ANOTHER FORUM, AT ANOTHER TIME, OLAVARRIA'S COMMENTS 
WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED AS GOOD GRIST FOR PUBLIC DEBATE, BUT MOST-- 
INCLUDING LEADING MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION--WERE CRITICAL OF 
OLAVARRIA'S USE OF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY KEYNOTE AS A FORUM FOR A 
POLITICAL ATTACK, WITH MANY USING THE WORD "OFFENSIVE" TO DESCRIBE 
THE EVENT.  A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ARGUED THAT THE SPEECH, GIVEN 
ITS PETTY CONTENT DIRECTED AT THE PRESIDENT, HAD NO PLACE AS PART 
OF A CEREMONIAL ACT HELD IN CONGRESS.  THE ONLY POLITICAL LEADER TO 
LEND UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT TO OLAVARRIA'S VERBAL ADVENTURE WAS 
DEMOCRATIC ACTION (AD) PARTY LEADER CANACHE MATA, WHO REACTED 
DEFENSIVELY TO INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS VIEW OF THE SPEECH. 
 
 
MAISTO